And now look at the NHL.... exactly why it isn't such a great thing that NBA talent is leaving the NBA. Personally I don't really care if bench warmers and players are leaving, because their talent can easily be replaced. Once a star leaves, then we have a problem...

However, I think this may only be temporary, because of the weak American dollar. Once the dollar rises back to normal, players may not be so adamant about leaving. It always comes down to money. The Euro is much stronger than the American dollar.

As for kids skipping college to play overseas, so be it. I wouldn't want the NBA to retract its minimum age requirement just so that these kids don't end up in Europe. It'd be the wrong thing to do. The NBA has done its part in trying to let those play basketball with an education to fall back on if it doesn't work out. Too many high school players thought they could make it big in the NBA by skipping college, and they didn't succeed. The NBA has done its part in trying to avoid that, and now its up to the individual to make a decision about college or playing overseas. There is nothing the NBA can do about that.

"Boki" sucked anyway.For the most part the only players that will leave the NBA and get more money in Europe are bench players.Big name players will always get their money here.

But what about guys just below "big name"?

Guys who should get more than the MLE, but can't because of the cap situation of most teams in the league?

The market for those guys becomes smaller as teams load up with max contracts and then try and fill holes using minimum contracts and exceptions.

But as of late, those guys can get star player money in Europe.

Dywer's Ball Don't Lie post from this morning on this topic was on point, in my opinion.

I would say its a good thing in general. A higher talent level overseas can't hurt basketball development on the whole over there, and maybe it forces the NBA to look into some issues regarding the cap structure.

And I don't know how any Raptors fan can say Boki sucked. He came to play against Toronto, anyway.

Boki did suck, he had one and a half good seasons. He was soft and a product of Kidd. Before Kidd he was an 11th man that couldnt play any defence and didnt rebound, then with Kidd he was a 7th man who couldnt play any defence and didnt rebound but could hit open shots created for him. He doesnt wanna play against the best compettition in the world because of a few couple more millions that he doesnt even deserve ? Whatever, have fun in Europe. Keep overpaying the NBA scrubs European teams.

As a baketball fan I like basketball wherever it is played, and the fact that teams can be competitive all over the place makes me happy enough. To me it only strengthens the game. I never thought much of the idea of international leagues being like minor league outposts for the NBA. If that were to happen, then it might grow the NBA game for some time, but long-term it could just lower interest in most of the rest of the world outside of a few pockets here and there. As things stand this game is starting to rival football in it's global appeal.